{
  "id": 2287163,
  "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45%: poll",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll-2287163",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T03:22:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20260821/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has increased slightly from a record low, according to a recent poll. Conducted by Gallup Korea between Tuesday and Thursday, the survey of 1,004 individuals aged 18 and older revealed that 45% of respondents positively evaluated Lee's management of state affairs, marking a 1 percentage point increase from the previous week's record low of 44%. However, Lee's disapproval rating remained at 45%, with 11% of respondents expressing uncertainty about their stance.\n\nThe pollster did not provide a specific reason for the rise in Lee's approval rating. Nevertheless, diplomacy was the most commonly cited reason for the positive evaluation at 19% of the respondents, followed by the economy and people's livelihoods at 11%, and overall performance and communication each at 7%. Among those who disapproved of Lee's performance, 28% pointed to his real estate policies, 12% cited concerns over the economy and people's livelihoods, and 7% mentioned defense, security, and North Korea-related policies. The pollster noted that the increase in the number of respondents mentioning defense may be significant.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose slightly this week after hitting a record low, a poll showed Friday. In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,004 people aged 18 and older, 45 percent positively assessed Lee's management of state affairs, up 1 percentage point from a record low of 44 percent in the previous survey released last week. Lee's disapproval…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45 pct: poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-pct-poll",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:27:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45%: poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}